The whole cathedral complex comprised a total of 30 buildings, including six chapels, divinity schools, priests' residences and various utility rooms. Everything is now reduced to rubble.

There are an estimated 80,000 Roman Catholic out of the province's 570,000 population. The North Vietnam Catholic Association has reported the incident to the Pope, and called upon the Vatican to demand a halt to United States bombing immediately.

According to Hanoi, the cathedral was slightly damaged by U.S. bombs in 1968. No details of civilian casualties have been released for this raid on Phat Diem.